Nikhat Zareen defeats reigning World Champion, Indian contingent performs well at the Bosphorus Boxing tournament

Indian pugilist Nikhat Zareen scripted history when he defeated reigning world champion Ekaterina Paltceva at the Bosphorus Boxing tournament in Istanbul on Wednesday. With this win, she powered her way through to the quarterfinals of the Women’s 51kg category.

Russia’s Ekaterina Paltceva was favourite to win the bout as she won the gold medal at the 2019 World Boxing Championships in the women’s light-flyweight category. Paltceva is also a former European champion and was in a formidable competition against Nikhat Zareen but the Indian proved her talent yet again on the big stage. She dominated her throughout the bout and defeated the Russian 5-0.

The 24-year-old Asian Championship Bronze medallist will now face Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals. It will be another huge challenge for the Indian youngster as her opponent is a two time World Champion.

Overall the Indian contingent have performed decently as Shiva Thapa (Men’s 63kg), Parveen (women’s 60kg) and Sonia Lather (women’s 57kg) have also qualified for the last eight apart from Zareen.

Experienced pugilist Shiva Thapa showed a great deal of grit and guile to edge past Kazakhstan’s Smagulov Baghtiyov by a 3-2 split decision. While Sonia Lather and Parveen blazed past their Turkish opponents Tugcenaz Surmeneli and Esra Ozyol respectively by unanimous verdicts.

Sonia Lather who has been a silver medallist at the World Championships in the past has looked in great shape. She defeated Argentina’s Rosorio Milogros with ease in her first round fight.

Another Indian who has also made it to the quarterfinals of the Bosphorus Boxing Meet is Gaurav Solanki (men’s 57kg). The 2018 Commonwealth Gold medallist defeated Kazakhstan’s Arapov Aidos on the opening day of the tournament and progressed through.

Meanwhile, Duryodhah Negi (men’s 69kg), Brijesh Yadav (men’s 81kg) and Krishan Sharma (men’s +91kg) did not live up to the expectations of their fans and crashed out of the competition in their respective preliminary rounds.

The third day at the Bosphorus Boxing Meet in Istanbul will witness six Indian boxers feature in the quarterfinals. Sonia Lather, Nikhat Zareen, Parveen and Jyoti Grewal (69kg) will be in action from the women’s category while men Shiva Thapa and Gaurav Solanki will put up their challenge.

With India not sending most of their Tokyo Olympics bound boxers they still have done really well at such a world-class tournament. There will be hopes pinned on several pugilists as they gear up to take on their opponents.